Gebouw c. 1910 - 1915

Willem Witsen made this sketchy drawing called ‘Gebouw,’ which means Building, with graphite on paper. The first thing you might notice about this work is its simplicity. It's like a whisper, a fleeting thought captured on paper. The lines are delicate, almost hesitant, as if Witsen was feeling his way through the scene. I imagine him standing before this building, squinting in the light, trying to distill its essence into a few quick strokes. It's fascinating how much information he conveys with so little. You can sense the weight of the building, the texture of the stone, the play of light and shadow. It’s a kind of shorthand, this drawing. A note to self. And it reminds me that art doesn't always have to be grand or monumental. Sometimes, the smallest gestures can be the most profound.